UFC TONIGHT QUOTES: Cormier Returns as Champ, UFC FIGHT NIGHT Preview, Condit and Rutten Interviews
LOS ANGELES, CA – UFC TONIGHT hosts Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian are joined by guest host Michael Bisping and preview UFC FIGHT NIGHT: CONDIT VS. ALVES. Florian and Cormier interview Carlos Condit, while Cormier and Bisping interview Bas Rutten. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani add reports.
UFC TONIGHT Host Daniel Cormier on being the new champ: “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced, outside of my kids. It’s something you dream about, but you never know if you’re going to accomplish it.”
Cormier on his game plan against Anthony Johnson: “The game plan was to try to implement wrestling, make him go hard and make him go long. You can wear out guys with a lot muscle. The grind can wear out the arms. But he hit me hard. That wasn’t a right hand that hit me, that was a missile shot out of a rocket launcher. He’s a stud. He’s confident and hits hard.”
Cormier on Johnson putting the belt around him: “I just want to say thank you Anthony Johnson. You see many guys win and then the belt is put around the waist by Dana White. Johnson did that and made my time special. I thank him for being the classy guy he is. I said a lot of good things about him before the fight.”
Cormier on Ryan Bader showing up at the press conference: “I don’t quite understand – you give a guy his moment. Ryan, you deserve the shot at the belt, but there are better ways to do it. He thinks I ducked him. He was sent to New Orleans to get beat up by me in my home state. But don’t come to the press conference. Why would I be afraid of him? I’d love to compete against Jones again. If it’s Bader, it’s Bader. He’s won four in a row, but he hasn’t beaten the best four guys.”
VIDEO: Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champ Cormier receives a warm welcome home at FOX Studios
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=452656195929
Cormier on who should fight Chris Weidman next: “Luke Rockhold has showed an ability to dominate high level guys. What he did to Machida, no one else has done. He dominated Machida and has won three top 10 fights in a row.”
UFC TONIGHT Guest Host Michael Bisping on who Weidman should fight next: “Weidman went on Ariel Helwani’s show and he believes Rockhold isn’t great anywhere, and that it should be Jacare who gets the next shot. He’s better on the floor, he hits hard and he’s undefeated in the UFC. Rockhold can’t say that.”
UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian if John Dotson or Joseph Benavidez should get the title shot next: “Dodson’s fight was close and could have gone either way. I thought Dodson squeezed it out. Which is too bad because he’s so talented. Benavidez looked good, but he’s lost to the champ twice already. I think the best way to settle it is to have those guys fight and see who gets the chance to fight for the title.”
Florian on Condit’s keys to victory: “He has a lot of power and is a creative striker, and he is so unpredictable with his striking. His first key is to use his reach. He needs to vary his attack, and he needs to push the pace. He never gets tired in a fight.”
Cormier on Thiago Alves’ keys to victory: “He’s a big, strong, durable striker. His leg kicks are the key. His first key is constant pressure. Condit is good at moving forward, so he has to move him back. He needs to throw leg kicks, which will slow Condit down. And he has to control the top position, which will slow the pace of the fight down as well.”
Carlos Condit on how he’s finished so many opponents: “It’s a combination of things but first and foremost great training and great training partners.”
Condit on his path to victory against Thiago Alves: “He’s a phenomenal fighter, he’s good everywhere. My key to victory is to push the pace, get in there, grind him, get him tired and then I can walk away with the victory.”
Condit on coming off the knee injury and avoiding Alves’ kicks: “I have to be aware of them whether my knee was injured or not. I don’t want to take those kicks. I have to stay mobile and be well prepared with my game plan.”
Condit on when he’ll get a title shot: “I think it depends on the fight between Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler. Rory’s been inching to get a shot at me for a while. I may be two or three fights away. I’m picking Rory this time. I think he’s learned from that first fight, he’ll open up a little bit and not be so conservative and walk with the belt.”
VIDEO: Interview: Condit
VIDEO: Strikezone: Carlos Condit vs. Thiago Alves
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=452751427976
Bas Rutten on in what getting into the UFC Hall of Fame means to him: “It’s the icing on the fight career. You think, I was UFC champion, but you always wonder, will I be in the Hall of Fame? I had a short career because of my injury, so I wasn’t sure. They put me in for my fighting, and I really enjoyed that.”
Rutten on what he’s most proud of: “The way I grew up. How sick I was as a kid. I had asthma, eczema, skin disease and I pushed through all of that and became a UFC champion.”
VIDEO: Interview: former heavyweight champion Bas Rutten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPkEhLraS8Q
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on when lightweight champ Rafael Dos Anjos will return: “Rafael Dos Anjos hasn’t been cleared to train yet and he’s hoping to return from his torn MCL in December. But will Cowboy want to wait that long for the title fight?”
Helwani on bantamweight Raphael Assuncao: “Raphael Assuncao has recovered from his broken ankle and is 100 percent and ready to go. He’s preparing for a title fight on July 25. He wants to be ready if someone pulls out from the Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 bantamweight title fight.”
VIDEO: Inside the Octagon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCGcD0IOXvE
VIDEO: Cormier joins AMERICA’S PREGAME to discuss his new title, a rematch with Jon Jones and more.
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=452541507675
UFC TONIGHT
UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on FOX Sports 1. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian, light heavyweight title contender Daniel Cormier, veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant and five-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani bring you all the news and analysis.
Follow on Twitter at: @KennyFlorian @DC_MMA @Bisping; @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FOXSports1
